Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Different polyurethanes vary in biostability. Study on the biostability of polycarbonate polyurethane (PCU) is important to determine the feasibility of polyurethane used as the external capsule of prosthetic disc nucleus pulposus. 
OBJECTIVE: To observe the in vitro and in vivo degradation properties of polyether polyurethane (PEU) and PCU with different hard segment contents.
METHODS: The in vitro hydrolysis, oxidative degradation and enzymolysis experiments of the polyurethane were performed in simulated environment. The prepared PEU and PCU samples were dipped into PBS and “H₂O₂/CoCl₂ preoxidation-Papain” systems for in vitro degradation study at 37 ℃, and implanted into the back muscle of white rabbits for in vivo degradation experiment.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The degradation of PCU is greatly better than PEU, with larger hard segment contents and stronger degradation resistance. PCU is much more biostable than PEU, it’s more suitable for long-time biological implantation.